Razor blade knife



June 2, 1942. s. w. FROST RAzoR BLADE KNIFE Filed Nov. 6, 1959- hummm lllllllmlllllllllllllllll 5- dzeff Mza?? ,7,47

Patented Y .lune 2, 1942 `UNIT STATES OFFICE Y i 2,285,155 f v I Y Razon BLADE munt:V Sherman W. Frost, Milibury, Mass.,` assigner to Thomas Smith Company, Worcestexg'Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 6, 1939, Serial No. 302,940

` 17 Claims. goreng- 162) I This invention relates to razor blade knives for `pocket use and more particularly toholders for the conventionalsafety razor blade for use as a pocket kni-fexforany purpose such as cutting or shearing of anymaterial. l

The objects-of this invention include the'provision of a holder of resilient material for a razor blade, the razor blade being contained therewithin, therheans' to slide the blade partially out blade in positionand extending vfrom one side only of the holder; .the provision of a razor blade holder as aforesaid having means .to limit the extension of the razoriblade whereby the blade may be used in`a safe manner .and the accidental cutting of thengers is avoided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter. i i

Reference `is to be had to` theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the manner in .which the razor blade knife'mair beused;

` Fig. y2 is a top plan'view of the razor knife;

Fig. 3 is an edge kview of the razor knife, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the holder forV the blade;` u I i Fig. 5 is an end viewof the same, lookin in the direction of the arrow 5 inl Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view ofthe razor blade;

y Fig. 7 is a plan viewV of rtheslider or thumb piece;

of the average razor blade I2, and having an interior guideway I8 slightly wider thanthe razor blade. One end of the holder has its sides bent the razor blade from fallingV out or being pushedA out at this end. One side ofthe other end of the holder I4 is cutaway, as at 22, to provide a slanting edge from which the blade ymay extend to `useful position. i

Referring tothe flanges Il, it is seen that they do not meet but are spaced to form a channel 24. VThis channel provides for reception of a thumb piece 26 which is formed, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, with a knurled surface adapted to be pressed by the thumb `while the index iinger'presses upon one edge IGiof the holder anid the second andthird fingers complete the graspingv action of the thumb on the reverse side oi the holder.

The thumbpiece 26" is` bent at its `ends at 21,

vas shown in Fig. 8, to provide-for the offset and shallow extensions 3l) which are adapted to t into the irregular shaped holes 32 in the con-v ventional safety razor` blade and thus hold the samein secured relation tothe thumb piece. It, will be obvious'that any irregular shaped openings 32 may be engaged by the extensions 3i).

Fig. 8 is a sideviewof the thumb piece, looking in the drection of the arrow 8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on the' line 9--9 of Fig. 2;Y

1 Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line Iii-ill4 vention and in Fig. 1 it is `illustrated how the` knife may be held to Acnt with the blade I2 Without possibility of injury to the user. A

The razor blade knife embodying the present invention is provided witha holder I4 of resilient material whose side edges are bent over upon themselves, as at' I6, to produce side flanges' ,l1 `to form a blade holder longer than the length The bent portions 21 of the thumb piece are oi a width to engage both edges of the channel 24, and thus it is clear that the thumb piece, while slidable longitudinally in the channel 24, mayV not be displaced sidewise of itself or transversely of the holder I4. l i

Having engaged the razor blade over the extensions3ll of the thumb piece 2B, the thumb piece and razor blade are slid into the openfend of the holder; and as seen in Fig. 9 the footpieces 28 are of such a thickness, as to just fit between flanges I1 and the blade I2 in the guideway I8, the extensions 30 engaging the back of the holder. Since the holder I4 isof resilient material, the ,tendency of this construction is to render the thumb piece lightly clamped and thusfstationary atany point to which it is slid in the holder.` However, in order to make Vsure that the blade I2 will not extend too far beyond the open end of the holder I4 so that the rear edge of the blade (which cannot be seen in Fig. 1) will be prevented from being inra position to cut the index finger of the hand shown in this iigure, provision is made to limit the extension of the blade to a desired point. This consists of a dent 34 located near one end of either or both of the flanges I'l and so arranged so as to impinge against the forward foot piece 28 of the slider 26 when the blade is extended. Thus it will be seen from Fig. 2 that the thumb piece and blade may be slid from the position shown to a position wherein the blade is entirely contained within the holder I4 but is not easily extended outwardly beyond the illustrated position.

When it becomes necessary to change the blade a more powerful sliding pressure on the thumb piece 26 may be utilized to push the thumb piece and the blade entirely out of the holder. Then a new blade is connected to the thumb piece by means of the extensions 3D fitting within the blade holes 32 and thus assembled the thumb piece and the blade are reinserted in the holder and may be slid beyond the dent 34 by the application of somewhat greater force than is necessary to merely slide the blade from entirely within the holder to useful position.

Thus it is seen that avery handy razor blade knife has been provided by this invention and this knife may be used with safety by anyone due to the fact that the blade cannot ordinarily be slid beyond the end of the holder I4 and only one cutting area is used, i. e., that shown in Fig. 2. However, when necessary the blade may be changed as above described. Also, it is to be noted that in no circumstance can the blade be extended out in the rear end of the holder, that no fastenings or clamping means are employed except the parts above enumerated; and' all thumb screws, rivets and similar clamping devices are done away with, special reference being had to the fact that one side of the holder is completely clear of any protuberances and that the other side has extending therefrom nothing but the thumb piece 26. This results in a finished, smooth appearance of the knife and avoids objectionable screws or rivets which may catch on the pockets or clothing of the carrier of the knife.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In an article of the class described, a plate of resilient material having two parallel side flanges bent back to positions parallel with and closely spaced from the plate, a space between the edges of said flanges, a rigid slider received in said space and extending therefrom to form a thumb piece, said slider having widened portions at each end to extend under said flanges, and means at each said portion for engagement with a blade, said means extending out from said widened portions in a direction opposite to said thumb piece.

2. In an article of the class described, a plate of resilient material having two parallel side fianges bent back to positions parallel to and narrowly spaced from said plate, a space between the edges ofsaid bent flanges, a slider received in said space and having rigid widened portions at each end to extend under said flanges, integral means at each said portion for engagement with openings inl a blade, whereby the blade is guided by said slider, and said portions being constructed and arranged to firmly bear against said flanges, said blade engaging means bearing against said plate.

3. In an, article of the class described, a plate of resilient material having side flanges bent back over in closely spaced relation to the plate to form a guideway, there being a space between the free edges of said flanges, a sliding member located in and extending from said guideway thru the space, a widened foot on said sliding member within the guideway, said foot being thick enough to bear firmly both against the plate and at least one of the flanges, and said foot being undercut to provide a projection for receiving an aperture in a blade.

fl. In an article of the class described, a plate of resilient material having side flanges bent back over and closely spaced from said plate so as to be parallel thereto but spaced slightly therefrom, said flanges being spaced from each other to form a slot therebetween, a thumb piece arranged to'slide in and be guided by said slot, said thumb piece having extensions at each end thereof to lie between said plate and said flanges and being slidably guided thereby, and means on each of said extensions adjacent the plate for engagement with the conventional irregular apertures in a razor blade, said means comprising projections on said extensions, saidV projections being on the plate side .of said extensions.

5. In an article of the class described, the combination of a casing 0f resilient material, said casing comprising a back having two side edge portions reversely bent over the back but said portions being spaced from each other to form a slot, said portions bearing against theback at one end of said casing, the other end of said casing being open; with a slidable member within the casing bearing against said back and said side portions, an element extending from said sliding member thru said slot and forming a thumb piece bearing against the Sides of said slot, means on said sliding member to engage a blade, and one of said side portions having an inward projection near the open end of the casing to abut and thereby limit the sliding member in its sliding movement.

6. In an article of the class described, a plate of suitable material having overlying spaced parallel anges, said flanges being spaced from said plate, a slider adapted to be received in the space between said flanges, said slider having a rigid foot element extending between `and bearing against said plate and said flanges, and said element being formed to provide a projection for receiving an aperture in a blade.

7. An article of the class described as recited in claim 6, in which the projection on said element is adjacent "said plate.

8. An article of the class described as recited in claim 6, in which the projection on said ele ment faces said plate so that the blade is held between said plate and said element.

9. A slider for a razor blade knife comprising a generally straight, elongated thumb piece, at least one end of said thumb piece extending at an angle thereto, and a foot on said end generally parallel to said thumb piece.

l0. A slider for a razor blade knife comprising an elongated narrow thumb piece, said thumb piece having atleast one end thereof extending at an angle thereto, an extension on said end generally parallel to said thumb plate, and said extension having a projection thereon, providing a bearing element for said slider. Y

1l. A razor blade knife comprising an enclosure for the blade, a slot in said enclosure, and a slider adapted to be received in said slot, said slider comprising Va narrow element adapted to be located outside of said enclosure and having an offset portion extending thru the slot, a foot on said offset portion within the enclosure, said foot being effective to engage and hold a `razor blade and bearing against two opposite sides of said enclosure.

12. A razor blade knife comprising an enclosure having two generally parallel sides, a slot in one side, a slider, said slider comprising an elongated element, an offset portion on said element extending thru said slot, a rigid foot on said offset portion within the enclosure, said foot being adapted to engage a razor blade and bearing against both sides of said enclosure. Y

13.`A razor blade knife as recited in .claim 12, in Awhich said foot is provided with an outstanding projection, said projection lbeing effective to pass thru an aperture therein and thus hold the blade.

14. A razor blade knife as recited in claim 12,

in which said foot is provided with .a projection extending away from said narrowelement, said projection being effective to pass thru an aperture in the blade and bear at its free end on one wall of the enclosure.

15. As an article of manufacture, a solid, continuous plate of rectangular form having flanges along its longer edges, said flanges extending tovwhereby said blade may be moved along said plate lupon relative movement of the latter and said member. Y

16. Anarticle as recited in claim 15 wherein said laterally extending .portion is slidably bear on Vsaid plate.V

17. A razor blade knife .comprising .a rectangular plate having inturned guide flanges along yparallel sides of said plate, a slider adapted to be slidably guided on said flanges, a pair of spaced projections on said slider extending toward said plate, said projections being'adapted to engage in apertures in a razor blade of the safety razor type, and stop means adjacent each end of said plate for engaging said projections to limit the sliding range of said slider, said stop means being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between projections.

SHERMAN W. FROST.

adapted to o 

